Uthayarasa Stalin a twenty-four year old journalist working for the Jaffna-based Valampuri newspaper was attacked by a group of unidentified people today.

Reports emerging from Jaffna suggest that he was attacked on the same day at two places, while returning to office after an assignment on his bicycle. First he was attacked near Brown Road and later he was stopped at Neeraviyadi, close to Jaffna Hindu College, where he was attacked a second time.

A gang of six men carrying 'mannvettis' (heavy metal hoes) were said to be involved in the attack.

Stalin, who was left by his attackers on the roadside, was found by passers-by and taken to Jaffna General Hospital, where he is currently admitted with internal injuries.

Stalin is a well-known correspondent who was often critical of the government and the military. Reports say that the reason for the attack was that he was repeatedly queried the reasons for the release of the suspects who were arrested for disrupting a political rally of the joint opposition recently.

Stalin, who was left by his attackers on the roadside, was found by passers-by and taken to Jaffna General Hospital, where he is currently admitted with internal injuries.

Speaking to reporters, he has said that he could identify one of the attackers.

The Police Media Spokesperson notes that a complaint had been lodged with the Police into an attack carried out by an unidentified gang and that investigations will take place to identify them.

Stalin, who used to be a student union leader at Kokuvil Hindu College, has been arrested on previous occasions by Sri Lankan security forces. In 2007, he was arrested alongside other student union leaders from both Kokuvil Hindu College and Jaffna Hindu College. Recently, he has received anonymous threats and was reportedly attacked during protests in Jaffna.